Texas A&M's quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, (left) and Texas A&M's headcoach Kevin Sumlin answers questions from the media during a press conference Saturday Dec. 8, 2012 at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel in New York, New York. less

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin (center) leads his team out onto Kyle Field before a game against Florida on Sept. 8, 2012.

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin (center) leads his team out onto Kyle Field before a game against Florida on Sept. 8, 2012.

Photo: David J. Phillip, Associated Press

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Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin is dunked on the sideline in the final seconds of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game against Oklahoma Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, in Irving, Texas. Texas A&M won 41-13. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin has a few choice words with an official after Oklahoma intercepted a ball during the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl college football game, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin gets dunked with water as his Cotton Bowl college football game against Oklahoma comes to an end, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas A&M won 41-13.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin gets dunked with water as his Cotton Bowl college football game against Oklahoma comes to an end, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas A&M won 41-13.

Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M: After being picked to finish in the middle of the SEC, Sumlin has guided the Aggies to a 10-2 record — most wins ever by a first-season A&M coach — and stretched his road winning streak to 12 games.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin is greeted by fans after the Aggies beat Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Kyle Field in College Station.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin is greeted by fans after the Aggies beat Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Kyle Field in College Station.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin celebrates a touchdown during their game against the Missouri Tigers at Kyle Field on November 24, 2012 in College Station, Texas. (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin celebrates a touchdown during their game against the Missouri Tigers at Kyle Field on November 24, 2012 in College Station, Texas. (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

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Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin has words with the officials at Kyle Field on November 17, 2012 in College Station, Texas. (Bob Levey / Getty Images)

Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin has words with the officials at Kyle Field on November 17, 2012 in College Station, Texas. (Bob Levey / Getty Images)

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Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin watches from the sidelines during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Sam Houston State, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M defeated Sam Houston State 47-28. (Dave Einsel / Associated Press)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin watches from the sidelines during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Sam Houston State, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin talks to a referee during the first quarter of a college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, in Tuscaloosa. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin talks to a referee during the first quarter of a college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, in Tuscaloosa. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin watches play during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Sam Houston State, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in College Station, Texas. A&M beat Sam Houston 47-28. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin watches play during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Sam Houston State, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in College Station, Texas. A&M beat Sam Houston 47-28. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin runs onto the field before facing Sam Houston State in a college football game at Kyle Field, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in College Station.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin runs onto the field before facing Sam Houston State in a college football game at Kyle Field, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in College Station.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin talks to a referee during the first quarter of a college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, in Tuscaloosa. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin talks to a referee during the first quarter of a college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, in Tuscaloosa. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies discusses a call with an official during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Wade Davis Stadium on November 3, 2012 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)

Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies discusses a call with an official during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Wade Davis Stadium on November 3, 2012 in Starkville, Mississippi.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies leaves the field following a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Wade Davis Stadium on November 3, 2012 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)

Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies leaves the field following a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Wade Davis Stadium on November 3, 2012 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Stacy Revere

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin shouts to his players in the second quarter of their NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. Texas A&M won 38-13. (Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press)

Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin calls in a play from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Associated Press)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin wipes his face as he walks off the field after loosing to LSU 24-19, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin wipes his face as he walks off the field after loosing to LSU 24-19, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin gives offensive lineman Jarvis Harrison a high five after the Aggies scored a field goal during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station.

Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin looks downfield in the third quarter of their NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Texas A&M won 30-27. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 06: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A&M Aggies watches game action against the Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 6, 2012 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin runs onto the field after a play during the second half of a college football game at Kyle Field, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in College Station. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin runs onto the field after a play during the second half of a college football game at Kyle Field, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in College Station. ( Karen Warren / Houston

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin on the sidelines during the first quarter of a college football game at Kyle Field, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in College Station. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle)

Texas A&M University head coach kevin Sumlin leads his team to the tunnel before his football game against South Carolina State University, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in College Station. ( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle)

Texas A&M University head coach kevin Sumlin leads his team to the tunnel before his football game against South Carolina State University, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in College Station. ( Nick de la Torre

Texas A&M University heach coach Kevin Sumlin yells instructions to his players during the second quarter of a NCAA football game against South Carolina State University, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in College Station. ( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle)

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, left, chats with Southern Methodist head coach June Jones as the teams warm up before an NCAA football game at Ford Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, in Dallas. Southern

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, left, shakes hands with Southern Methodist head coach June Jones following the Aggies 48-3 victory in an NCAA football game at Ford Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, in

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin walks off the field after losing an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Florida beat Texas A&M 20-17. Texas A&M begins a new era with its first Southeastern Conference game after leaving the Big 12 Conference. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, center, leads his team out onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M begins a new era with its first Southeastern Conference game after leaving the Big 12 Conference. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

First-year coach Kevin Sumlin, center, encourages his players before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M begins a new era with its first Southeastern Conference game after leaving the Big 12 Conference. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

First-year coach Kevin Sumlin, center, encourages his players before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M begins a new era with its

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, center, sings the "Aggie War Hymn" with his players before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M begins a new era with its first Southeastern Conference game after leaving the Big 12 Conference. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin on the sidelines before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M begins a new era with its first Southeastern Conference game after leaving the Big 12 Conference. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin pats Texas A&M University quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) after Manziel was called for an illegal forward pass during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station.

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin walks off the field after loosing to University of Florida in a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station. The University of Florida won 20-17.

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin walks off the field after loosing to University of Florida in a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station. The University of

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin talks to his players during a time out during the third quarter of a NCAA football game against the University of Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station. The University of Florida won 20-17.

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin talks to his players during a time out during the third quarter of a NCAA football game against the University of Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin walks off the field after loosing to University of Florida in a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station. The University of Florida won 20-17.

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin walks off the field after loosing to University of Florida in a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station. The University of

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, center, leads his team out onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M begins a new era with its first Southeastern Conference game after leaving the Big 12 Conference. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas A&M University head coach Kevin Sumlin pats Texas A&M University quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) after Manziel was called for an illegal forward pass during the first quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station.

Three NFL teams “pursued” Kevin Sumlin this month. That's according to a CBSSports report Saturday.

Texas A&M reacted as schools do — with money. The Aggies announced, also Saturday, Sumlin will receive a raise that will nearly double his current contract.

By all appearances, Sumlin is content. Mike Sherman was wistful of the NFL; Sumlin always saw A&M as a destination.

He's a college coach at heart, with no NFL ties, and he's passionate about the chore that often drives others to the pros. Recruiting.

But Sumlin will eventually face what all winning coaches face. If he builds upon last season — and he should with the Heisman winner back — the NFL will come after him again. There will be more money, and maybe from a better NFL team than approached him this time, and he will have to make a decision.

The NFL would be better off if Sumlin had jumped this month. After all, eight NFL teams replaced coaches, and all eight passed on anyone of color. Among the choices was a Canadian Football League coach (Marc Trestman) and a guy who went 25-25 in four seasons at Syracuse (Doug Marrone).

A number of black NFL assistants aren't happy, and the Rooney Rule is again being seen as ineffective. According to reports, Ray Horton, who had been the Arizona defensive coordinator, got into a heated exchange with the team's GM when he found out he wasn't in line for the promotion.

On the day the Cardinals opted for Bruce Arians and filled the league's final opening, the Cleveland Browns signed Horton — to be their defensive coordinator.

Chris Rock, the comedian, is among those who noticed the theme. He tweeted Friday that “Andy Reid wins 4 games and everyone wants him, Lovie Smith wins 10 games and can't get a job.”

So there have been a lot of questions, and one came last week from a reporter on the NFL Network: “Where's the African-American Chip Kelly?”

He's in College Station. Sumlin and Kelly are about the same age, and they run a similar offense.

Kelly had never worked in the NFL until now, and he initially turned down the Eagles. He, too, was a college coach at heart.

But he changed his mind. And asked to address the switch from college to the pros at his first news conference in Philadelphia, Kelly gave a short answer.

“Football is football,” he said.

Sumlin, if in the same situation, would say something similar. He's a confident personality with a strong sense of how to run a program. That's one of many reasons to believe Sumlin could coach at any level.

His former boss, Bob Stoops, is the same. The NFL also came after him years ago, and Stoops opted to stay at Oklahoma.

“I think it's fair to say in some cases, we may have better jobs than some NFL jobs,” Stoops has said. “The allure, some of it, isn't as great as it used to be.”

But Stoops was also saying the NFL was once an allure. There's the challenge, and there's the sense that the highest level of the sport would be the higher calling.

And, yes, the NFL salaries are also higher.

Stoops considered all of this, just as Mack Brown and others have, and now he's set where he is. He's past that time in his career, with his college star rising and the NFL calling, when he had to decide where he belonged.

Sumlin has a good idea of where he belongs already. But give him another two or three seasons, with more success, with more NFL offers.